Nurungukal….

    I am nearing eighty now. The lock down protocols do not permit me to step out from my home. Yet, I venture to take an early morning stroll down the lane.  But recently seldom I used to enjoy the walk as it used to be earlier. I was enjoying such sojourns mainly in my interactions with the passers by. A smile, a twist of the upper lip or a silent hello, besides the intake of fresh air. Now the uncomfortable cover on my face is hindering all these. In fact fifty percent of my otherwise active face is blank. I have to now manage the expressions with my eyes, which have already lost their glitter. I wonder in present days even a mother’s lullaby would be a grumble !

     A mother and a child were coming opposite to me. The sibling was full of energy as can be seen from the way she swayed her body and limbs, as she moved ahead of her mother. The young mother was trying to drag the little one, may be trying to keep a safety gap from me. As usual I threw a smile to both. When it failed to get a response, I frantically tried my luck with my eyes, but in vain to trigger a reaction from the pair. One by one many passed past keeping safe distance and I felt that I was losing my entity as a social being. The social fabric is gradually rupturing and each individual is in a withdrawal syndrome.  The sense of togetherness is steadily withering. As a matter of fact the purpose of our existence has become our own concern and the community’s roll in it is fading. Individuals are going to be self protective and a cleavage is unknowingly developing. Forcibly a tendency, to be self centred is creeping in. I fear that another ugly version of an era of untouchables is emerging. May be that the nature is forcing on us to accept a new order and meaning to our existence. “Together you perish divided you live “. Unity in diversity is going to be a far cry, difficult to be accomplished.

         How are we going to circumvent this hostile situation?. I think we can find an answer, if we dig out our past life style. I mean a joint family set up, where intense relationship was nourished with close kith and kin. Outsiders were only complimentary or supporting actors to keep the social fabric intact. But in recent years the structure became fragile. Nuclear families sprung up for reasons of individual comforts, which forced us to seek help from others. This tendency accelerated the process of dependency on The State and free welfare schemes, although many safety options were available to address adverse situations with in a joint family. We demolished a time tested institution which was more dependable and sustainable, in our craze for following an alien culture which has obviously no relevance to our legacy.

       It’s almost certain that we have to live with this pandemic or a new one for many more years, because of the imbalances created by our own short sighted actions. Any organism tends to multiply it’s progeny  and for this process the need of a host is essential. Such organisms which were once depending on animals for multiplication are forced to find human hosts since their natural hosts have been reduced as a result of the imbalances caused by the human invasions into their domain. Until then this position is reversed we are always an easy targets of such hostile agents. As things stands now we have to either live with it and to be in defence till such time an effective striking tool is developed which is still eluding us.                 

        So the best option left before us is to adopt a workable resilience strategy. How to exist beyond the reach of the enemy, adopting the protocol now in vogue is the best option left before us. Then how to sustain livelihood.  Obviously the answer is to be self sufficient in food production. Our food basket has to necessarily fit in tune with our seasons, as was it in the early nineties viz; tubers, millets, fruits,greens etc. Even our dress code may have to be  redesigned so as to be frugal, avoiding opulence from all our activities. Thus an austere  version of development has to be aspired. I strongly believe that for many years to come global economy will loose its dominant Just try to relevance. Mainly because  the trade routes and corridors are going to be narrowed down. Prioritise investments in health, education, agriculture and biodiversity conservation based on water shed development principles. Up gradation of  any infrastructure should be ultimately complementary to a self sustainable and sufficient local community. Ultimately our endeavour should be to live in harmony with nature and her subjects. Let others live or perish. It is now or never…….Let the message of our Father of the nation  prevail in each heart "....................."